Biermann Center opens at Hillsdale College

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By Chris Greene

The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI

By Chris Greene

Posted Mar. 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM

By Chris Greene

Posted Mar. 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

Hillsdale Daily NewsHILLSDALE ó Hillsdale College held the grand opening of the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center on March 2. The brand new 76,000-square foot building provides a world class practice and competition venue for Hillsdale Collegeís track and field team, as well as its women's tennis team.Named in honor of primary donor Frank Biermannís late wife, the Biermann Center offers an incredible upgrade from the track available in the George Roche Sports Complex and provides the burgeoning tennis team indoor courts for the first time.The track team looks to benefit greatly from the Biermann Center. Prior to the new building, Hillsdale College was unable to host indoor track meets; now the Chargers have the best track available."It opens up a world class facility for us to practice and have meets in," said Hillsdale College menís track coach Jeff Forino.The new facility provides opportunities for the college to host local high school track meets as well, drawing attention and support from the community at large.The track itself is constructed with Mondoís Mondotrack, the same surface used at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Its specific design disperses force evenly in all directions, allowing for greater speed around corners. The new facility also pushes NCAA regulations to their limits with a 21 meter wide track and 48-inch lanes.The advent of this new facility aids the Hillsdale College women's tennis team as well. Prior to building this athletic center, Hillsdaleís only tennis courts were outdoors. In the winter months, the tennis team had to forgo intensive practice. In addition, inclement weather during the season forced the team to travel as far as Toledo to find suitable indoor facilities.The Biermann Center seeks to address these problems by offering four indoor courts."It will have a huge impact on the tennis program," Hillsdale College athletic director Don Brubacher said. "They now have a quality practice facility for the winter months."During the season, the new courts will also serve as a viable backup plan should Michiganís fickle weather attempt to interfere with matches."It will allow us to keep practicing during the winter months," Hillsdale College tennis coach Nicole Walbright said. "Having the ability to continue hitting in the off season is crucial to maintaining everything we worked on all fall."In addition to use by both the tennis team and the track team, Hillsdale hopes that its students will utilize the space for recreation and intramural activities. Both Forino and Brubacher expressed a great deal of excitement about the possibilities the facility offers to Hillsdale Collegeís students.Beyond that, the Biermann Center will serve as a large indoor venue that the college can use for events like commencement.Brubacher said that the track itself would be open to the public and that he hoped to see the tennis courts made available to members of the complex as well, although they are off-limits right now because of their fragility."It changes our programming for the college in every respect," Brubacher said, "Iím sure weíve yet to realize all of the activities we can host in this facility."From a useful venue for large events to a dramatically improved venue for the track and tennis teams, the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center will serve Hillsdale College and the surrounding community for years to come.††